American sprinter joins Italian team of Tatiana Guderzo
The Women’s Yellow Flou team has been confirmed as Alé-Cipollini-Galassia for 2014, with the addition of American Shelley Olds to its predominantly Italian line up. The 33-year-old Massachusetts sprinter spent 2013 with Tibco-To The Top, taking several victories in North America and numerous podium finishes in Europe. She joins the Italian team’s established riders like 2009 World champion Tatiana Guderzo, and former two-time Italian champion Monia Baccaille, who returns to the peloton after a year away to have a baby.
Cipollini, the eponymous bike company of the Re Leone Mario Cipollini, remains as a partner, but has been moved down to co-sponsor by the new Italian clothing company Alé, which will replace Giordana from this year’s team.
“Last season we participated in a lot of races, always as protagonists, we gained a lot of good results and we brought the Yellow Fluo to shine in all Europe and beyond,” said team president Alessia Piccolo. “I want to thank all the athletes: those that remain, but also those that the next season will wear another jersey. I’m sure that the experience in the Yellow Fluo team has given them a lot of emotions, both in race and off the bike, because ours is a really tight-knit group. Next year we want to improve some more”
While Guderzo remains, along with Marta Tagliaferro, Valentina Carretta, Malgorzata Jasinska and the returning Baccaille, the team has lost a number of its 2013 line up. Departures include Valentina Scandolara, who will ride for Orica-AIS next year, and former Russian champion Tatiana Antoshina.
Luisana Pegorara also remains as the team’s directeur sportif.
Replacing the departures, alongside Olds, will be Ilaria Bonomi, who rises for the junior ranks, talented up-and-coming sprinter Barbara Guarischi, and all-rounder Elena Berlato. Spanish champion Ane Santesteban Gonzalez – like compatriot Anna Sanchis, who signed for Wiggle Honda – is another rider to find a ride outside Spain, away from the struggling Bizkaia-Durango team.
Alé-Cipollini 2014 team line up
Monia Baccaille, Elena Berlato, Ilaria Bonomi, Valentina Carretta, Ane Santesteban Gonzalez, Barbara Guarischi, Tatiana Guderzo, Malgorzata Jasinska, Shelley Olds, Marta Tagliaferro